The magnetic
powder clutch is composed of active rotor (input shaft), driven rotor (output shaft) and Yoke with excitation coil. These three parts are resembled against the concentric part and form a system which can rotate relatively. The annular gap between active rotor and driven rotor is full of alloy powder which has high permeability.
The magnetic powder will be in the state of loose when the current do not pass the excitation coil. The magnetic powder will be thrown on the inner wall of active rotor. Then there will not exit interaction force between the active and driven rotor. As the magnetic powder clutch is in the state of separation. No torque transmission exits.
The magnetic powder in the working chamber will link in a link state under the action of the magnetic flux generated from the Yoke when the current pass the excitation coil. The magnetic powder clutch can transfer torque relying on the sheer force generated from magnetic chain and the friction generated from the magnetic powder and working face. In this case, the magnetic powder clutch is in the state of combination.
When the current is cut off, the magnetic flux will disappear with the disappearance of the magnetizing current, the magnetic powder will be in the state of loosen under the action of gravity again, and will be thrown on the inner wall of active rotor under the action of the centrifugal force. In this case, the magnetic powder clutch will be in the state of separation again.
The magnetic powder clutch and brake have the same principle; the
magnetic powder brake will form as long as the driven rotor of the magnetic powder clutch is fixed.
Chart 1 Working principle of magnetic particle clutch Chart 2 Working principle of magnetic particle brake